These Heels Are Destined for Cult Status in 2022

If you were to ask if I'm a heels or trainers kind of girl, I'll always pick heels. Sure, I snapped up the New Balance 550 kicks as quickly as I could, but for me, heels always win. While my mule collection is getting quite excessive (they've taken over every cupboard in the lounge, too), I'm always on the lookout for new shoes to try out. And I am quite literally obsessed—along with the rest of Instagram–with one particular pair right now: slingbacks.

These are, of course, not anything new when it comes to the style. It's a '50s favourite worn by the likes of Marilyn Monroe in that skirt scene, and Coco Chanel put slingbacks on the map with the now-iconic two-tone pair. 

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(Image credit: @pernilleteisbaek)

The elegant style had a whole new vibe when it got to the '80s, and I distinctively remember tottering around the house as a kid playing dress-up in my mum's neon pairs in the '90s. And we all remember the Dior J'adior slingback logo pumps every fashion person wore in 2017, right? Now, Saint Laurent has single-handedly managed to make this sleek heel style resurface once again with the Vesper toe-cap pumps I can't stop thinking about. 

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(Image credit: @annarvitiello)

As they're already backed by some of my favourite fashion influencers—including Pernille Teisbaek and Anna Viteiello—I have been trying to justify getting a pair of Vespers to add to my collection. And I truly believe I would find any excuse to wear them, even if that may be just a Tesco trip post–party season.

On my search for the Saint Laurent slingbacks, I also found tonnes of other iterations that deserve our undivided attention. Keep scrolling to see the ones that are sure to make this retro style a thing once again. 

Shop Vesper Slingbacks:

Shop more slingbacks: 

Next up, Zara Has Just Had a Party-Dress Delivery

Freelance Fashion Editor

Harriet Davey is a freelance fashion editor who has been part of Who What Wear's extended team since 2017. She previously worked in print at Look magazine and has since worked across print, digital and social for many other titles, including British Vogue, Stylist, Grazia, Refinery29 and Marie Claire. Also a stylist, Harriet has had the pleasure of producing cover shoots and editorials along with commercial shoots for brands including Boux Avenue, Watches of Switzerland, Benefit Cosmetics and Revolution. To add to this, Harriet also works in live TV styling for ITV’s This Morning. Back to Who What Wear. With hundreds of published stories on site, Harriet knows what the WWW reader wants. Keeping up to date with the latest It buys and runway trends, she can guarantee to keep you one step ahead of the most stylish people. When not writing or styling, Harriet loves to go shopping (yes, more fashion). If she’s not in a local Hackney bar or restaurant, you can find her forever searching for her next holiday destination.